Mandatory office paper recycling program now in effect in four Newfoundland centres

ST JOHN'S, NFLD-Newfoundland and Labrador's mandatory office paper recycling initiative, announced by the provincial government in January of this year, came into effect September 1 in the municipalities of St John's, Mount Pearl, Paradise Conception Bay. Environment and Conservation Minister Tom Osborne said the new paper fibre recycling program applies to industrial, commercial and institutional facilities who must set up a paper recycling program to separate and divert all recyclable paper products from the regular waste stream. "Starting September 1, all businesses with 25 employees or more will be required to participate in the recycling program which will see all office paper waste diverted from the landfill at Robin Hood Bay," Osborne said. "Businesses with less than 25 employees will have to comply with the regulations starting March 1, 2006." Under the program, various office paper products will be recycled, include white and coloured paper, newspapers, business cards, envelopes, post-it notes and file folders. Over the past several months, the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) has worked with the four municipalities as well as representatives from their respective business communities, to develop and carry out an educational program on office paper recycling. As part of this initiative, all businesses with over 25 employees have also been provided with a "How-To" recycling guide through a direct mail-out from MMSB. A similar guide will be distributed later this year to businesses with fewer than 25 employees.